Veterans Administration Update

The VA has just (May 23, 2018) updated their interpretation of regulations regarding Veteran's gender expression. This is mostly a rehash and update of definitions, but it does add a Self-Identified Gender Identity (SIGI)

Self-Identified Gender Identity (SIGI) is a field in the VA records which refers to how Veterans think about their gender. Veterans may choose from a set of responses which include male, female, transman, transwoman, other, or the individual chooses not to answer.

This is important to me as I can simply request my VA records to identify me a transgender woman whereas before I had to jump through the hoops of doctors and court records.

This update is important mainly for its focus on us, the transfolk who put their butts on the line for their country. Unfortunately, it does nothing for those veterans who want to have GCS/GRS.

Gender confirming/affirming surgeries (also referred to as sex reassignment surgeries) include any of a variety of surgical procedures (including but not limited to vaginoplasty and breast augmentation in transgender women and mastectomy and phalloplasty in transgender men) done simultaneously or sequentially with the explicit goal of gender transitioning. Not all transgender or intersex individuals want gender confirming/affirming surgeries.

At least it does not limit hormonal or psychological treatments (as I a sure there are members of the administration and Congress who would want to restrict what we can receive.)

The following is a link to the new document:https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=6431

That's wonderful Miki. It seems things are moving forward in this Country despite the myopic leadership.

I am very concerned (and so is the VA staff I have questioned) that the Trump administration will force a privatization of the VA and a significant reduction (also known as cost savings) to the program.

If you want to reduce VA costs, stop making Veterans. Easy Peasy.